Which term refers to a false representation that misleads others?

• A. Defamation
• B. Deceit or misrepresentation
• C. Breach of confidentiality
• D. Slander

Answer: (B)

A false representation that misleads others is best described as deceit or misrepresentation. This focuses on presenting something as true when it is not, with the intention that others will rely on it. In dentistry or healthcare, it covers situations where a clinician states facts about a treatment, its outcomes, or costs that are knowingly false or misleading, leading a patient to make a decision based on that false information.

Defamation, including slander, involves making false statements about a person that harm their reputation, which is a different legal issue tied to the person’s character rather than to false representations about facts or actions. Breach of confidentiality is about improperly disclosing a patient’s private information, not about presenting misleading facts. Thus, deceit or misrepresentation directly captures the idea of a false, misleading representation.